Pythagorean Theorem Walkthrough and Problems

Sample Problems from Worksheet

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1. In a right triangle, the side opposite the right angle is called the _________________.

2. The hypotenuse is the _______________ side. We use the variable c to represent the hypotenuse when we don’t know it’s length.

3. The other two sides of the triangle are called the _______ (these two sides form the right angle). We use the variables a and b to represent the legs.

4. Label the hypotenuse and legs in this right triangle:

5. The ___________________ _______________ describes the relationship of the lengths of the sides of a _____________ triangle.

6. The Pythagorean Thereom is named after ________________, a Greek philospher and mathematician who taught around 530 BC.

PAGE 2

1. What is the length of the hypotenuse of the triangle? Using the triangle at the right, find the length of the missing side. 3. a = 6, b = 8, c = ?

6. A pigeon leaves its nest and flies 5 km due east. Then he flies 3 km due north. How far is the pigeon from his nest? (Draw a picture! Round to nearest tenth).